Well. I thought I would get away with 2 chapters, but as I was writing this one it became clear that there was more to say than I anticipated!

So chapter 3 and 4 will follow soon!

Night of destiny

Chapter 2

They had been too engrossed in their conversation, too involved in the immensity of the decision they had to make. Each of them in his own way. They had been too careless as a result and had not noticed the warning signs of horses lightly whinnying and branches cracking.

There were about ten of them and they were good swordsmen, too. Their leader who had shouted instructions to his men, and one of his companions went straight for Merlin. He was a strong broad man with a bald head and a golden earring in his right ear. The left one seemed to be missing which made him quite an eerie sight. Merlin had instinctively jumped up when the men had attacked, but lacking a sword – there had been no need to take one – all he could muster was the thick end of branch that had been part of the firewood. The bandit landed stroke on stroke on Merlin's branch chopping big chunks of bark away with each blow. Merlin's defence quickly reduced to the size of a walking stick. The warlock knew that he did not stand a chance against the man like this. Fully aware that Arthur was far too busy to notice he lifted his hand. A golden flicker of his eyes and the bandit crashed into one of the trees, a small cracking sound indicating that his spine snapped as he hit it.

His companion had witnessed what just had happened and his eyes grew large in horror and astonishment. He lifted his arm ready to call the alarm. 'A sor….' Merlin cut him short by gripping his fist together thus cutting off the man's speech. Terrified the bandit looked around and when he started to run away, Merlin had him trip over one of the saddle bags moving it into his way, then knocking him out with a falling bolder.

All this time Arthur had defended himself as only he could. He was a trained, highly skilled warrior who excelled in combat. His skills were far superior to those who attacked him, but they had the advantage of bigger numbers. They came at him from all sides. Arthur had dealt with two of them already who had fallen to the ground either dead or injured. The other six men were circling Arthur now waiting for the opportune moment to deliver a fatal blow.

Then everything happened at once. Merlin had just turned round after finishing off his second opponent to see the other men charging at Arthur simultaneously. The king was turning and twisting furiously handing out strikes in all directions. Another bandit fell, but there were just too many of them.

Merlin realized in a heartbeat that sword skills were not enough to save Arthur any more. Heavy blows rained from all sides upon the king, and his legs started giving way under the pressure. The young warlock could delay this no longer. He raised his arm and thundered :'Forth fleoge'. One golden flicker of the eyes and the men were thrown backwards by an intense invisible force. They landed a few metres away in the forest knocked at least unconscious if not worse.

Suddenly it was very silent again. Deadly silent.

They both remained where they were as if transfixed to the spot.

Arthur was still half kneeling, his hands resting upon the bent knee. He stared at Merlin with wide eyes vaguely remembering the turmoil he had not long witnessed on his servant's face when he had tried to answer him. Even if he usually was not that good with judging feelings he had been sensitive enough to notice the inner struggle of Merlin, had seen the tears in his eyes trying to formulate some words He had not quite grasped why his friend should be so upset – but now his actions had spoken louder than any words could ever have. And then the irony of it all hit Arthur – he had just asked a sorcerer whether he should welcome magic back to Camelot!

'Arthur' Merlin barely whispered the words. He moved forward placing his hand on Arthur's arm with the intent of helping him rise. Before Arthur knew it he instinctively pulled his arm away, stood up and took a step back. 'Leave me!' He ordered Merlin in a deadpan voice, his eyes dark with bitter disillusionment.

'Arthur' Merlin spoke again, but Arthur did not care about the torment in his voice. Morgana,and Agravaine had betrayed him before. That had been bad. But Merlin! A sorcerer! Arthur took a sharp breath and when he exhaled an anguished moan escaped his mouth.

'My magic. I use it for you, only for you, Arthur!' He heard Merlin's words, but did not want to hear them. He refused to look at his servant knowing he could not cope with what he would find in his face. All he could feel in this instant was disappointment and anger - that he had been betrayed and lied to. On a huge scale. Only the Gods knew for how many years. By the man he had considered his friend, his advisor, his brother.

Merlin had realized the moment he had cast the spell that this was it. The end of his world as he knew it. Nothing would be the same ever again. And there was no way telling how this would end. But he had been left with no other option. So when everything went quiet he had just stood there, watching Arthur, bracing himself of what was bound to come.

It was worse than he had ever imagined. Arthur could not even face him, avoiding his gaze. Refusing to speak. Recoiling from him when he tried to help. If he had shouted, accused him – Merlin could have taken that. He was well used to Arthur's temper. But silent rejection and damnation? Merlin's felt tears rolling down his cheeks. No! He did not deserve THIS. After all he had done and he had sacrificed. I must explain it to him. Show him. Make him understand. 'My magic. I use it for you, only for you, Arthur!' There, he had said it, forcing the words out in desperation.

'That does not change anything' Arthur muttered and turned away from him.

He had lost his mother, his father and his sister to the evil forces of magic. And now he had seen that it had also claimed his friend.

You are the only friend I have and I can't bear to lose you. Arthur had no idea where the thought had come from. He remembered well when he had said those words. It was well over three years ago when they had tried to escape from Agravaine. Merlin had gone back in the cave to create a distraction and he had followed him, full of worry what his clumsy servant might have got into on his own. He had meant every word of it, even if he had never admitted to it. But now, he had lost his friend and he had to bear it. Arthur gritted his teeth.

He looked around, noting the broken body of the bandits' leader for the first time. And in an instant he realized: Agravaine. They had found the bodies in the cave after the battle for Camelot had been settled. It was a mystery how they had come to meet their end, but he had been too busy rebuilding Camelot to really dwell on it.

'You did this?' He asked Merlin nodding in the direction of the dead man. Merlin had slumped in front of the fire, staring into it. He lifted his head shortly and just nodded.

'And Agravaine?' Arthur wanted to know for sure.

Merlin's eyes widened. Arthur had made a connection he had not expected. There was no point denying it now. 'I have always been there to protect you, and I had to defend myself.' He replied in a tired, slightly defensive tone, expecting nothing.

'I thought I knew you.' Arthur voice gave away what was going on in his mind. How could the Merlin he knew, the kind, caring, clumsy man he was, be ruthless and powerful enough to do something like this? And with magic.

'I am still the same person.' Merlin claimed quietly.

'You have lied to me all this time.' Arthur's voice was full of distrust and disbelief.

Merlin said nothing. What could he say? Was there any point of defending himself? He understood why Arthur was feeling betrayed. How often had he thought about telling him, trying to find the right moment, knowing that it had to happen at one point. The time had never come.

He had also suddenly realized that what had happened would make it easy for Arthur now to make a choice the following morning. Merlin had not needed to say the words that would have destroyed his soul. Instead revealing his magic had done that for him. By showing Arthur who he really was he had triggered his king's old feelings against sorcery yet again. Arthur would reject magic, but that meant that Mordred would die. And that had to be enough for him, knowing that Arthur would be safe. Even if he had sacrificed the love and trust of the person he cared most about.

This is not the end! There are two chapters to follow soon!